Heir to Skywalker ⤇ Finn

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Troopers fired back at Chewie once the first shot went off, but Padme payed no attention. None of them hit her. Whether that was due to their inaccuracy, or the huge force presence now circling her, it didn't matter. Right then, she was untouchable. Unmoved, unstartled, unhappy. The understatement of the timeline, unhappy.

Even Kylo Ren was afraid of her. He could feel the rage from his position, halfway across the catwalk. He wanted her to turn with her, but this was more than he had expected, and he feared it. Which only fed his darkness, but not enough to equal hers.

Meanwhile, Rey and Finn were fired at on the top level. They were being ambushed from every angle, same with Chewie, who was being forced to retreat to a connecting corridor. Before Chewie pressed the button to detonate the bombs, he yelled for Padme to get out.

"Don't follow us," She shouted to the Commander down the catwalk. "Or I will kill you."

She jumped all the way up to the top level and walked to Rey and Finn's location.

Kylo Ren watched her leave. He didn't know what to do. She wouldn't join him in the state she was in, but maybe Rey still could. He would try.

As soon as Padme got back to the group, they ran outside to escape the impending blast. Chewie pressed the button and continued running down his corridor. Explosions were ripping apart the shaft behind him.

Stormtroopers started blasting at Rey, Finn and Padme. Rey was trying to fire behind her with the blaster Han had given her on Takodana.

Han. He was gone. For real, not like Poe was just a day or two ago. Kylo Ren had murdered him right in front of her. He would pay for it.

They continued running until Finn dragged them out.

The base was in flames when they got deep enough into the snowy forest to escape the stormtroopers.

"The Falcon's this way," Finn told Rey. The Falcon. It had been Han's for over 40 years. And now, it wasn't. Padme dreaded telling Lando the news. They were friends for more than that. She knew Leia had felt it, but what she feared was telling her father. But she didn't even know if she would find him. Everything was falling apart just as she had gotten it.

They started walking when they were sure they were safe from the troopers. Padme was too distraught to sense what Rey and Finn did.

Kylo Ren lit his red saber 30 feet in front of them.

Finn gripped Luke's saber tightly and Padme's hand in the other.

"We're not done yet," Kylo Ren spat.

"You're a monster!" Rey shouted. Finn stood still, ready to attack if provoked. Padme just stood, staring at Kylo Ren with a blank stare.

"It's just us now. Han Solo can't save you," The unmasked figure in front of them inched forward.

Rey pulled up the blaster from her side and aimed, but before she could fire, an invisible force kept her still. Kylo Ren held her and threw the blaster aside. Next, he threw her. She hit a tree at full speed.

Finn ran back to her. "Rey!" He approached her. "Rey! Rey," He tried to wake her up, but she was out.

Padme didn't move. She was numb. She kept staring at Kylo Ren in front of them. "How could you?" She finally asked, examining his face. She needed to find some hint of hurt, something that would convince her of his humanity again.

"Destroy the past, Padme," He said. "Kill it if you have to."

"Oh I'll kill it alright," She challenged. She reached back to where Finn was and summoned her father's saber from his side. It flew to her and landed in her hand, lighting immediately. Kylo Ren's saber, which had been turned off after he threw Rey, ignited again.

"You will try," He returned. Padme held the saber in both hands now. She charged at him, attacking his body, and his mind. She searched for Ben inside Kylo Ren's head. She twisted to avoid his saber attacks, which were sloppy. While searching, she found the reason for his carelessness. Everytime he attacked, Ben stopped him from killing her.

Eventually, distraction became evident when he attacked, and Ben wasn't there to stop him. He pushed her back too, just like he did Rey. It was lighter, she remained faintly conscious.

Finn ran to her again, but saw she was awake. Instead fo babbling on, he grabbed the saber from her hand.

"Traitor!" Kylo Ren screamed at Finn, who lit the saber in response. The blue line of energy lit up the snow and melted the frost on the tree trunk.

"That lightsaber. Give it to me!"

"Come get it," Finn responded. He braced himself for an unfair fight and ran at the man. Finn raised the blade when Kylo Ren started running at him too.

Kylo Ren lunged at Finn, but the blue blade blocked it from hitting the wielder. He lunged again, Finn blocked again.

Slowly, Finn started to get the hang of it, and even sliced Kylo Ren's arm. They switched between offense and defense, but even with his injuries, Kylo Ren was gaining the upperhand.

It payed off when he attacked one more time. Their blades locked together and Kylo Ren pushed forward, step by step pushing him further back. The side of the red saber started burning Finn's jacket, slowly reaching his arm. Finally, Finn was pushed off balance and had to step away from him to stop from falling. Kylo Ren took his opportunity and sliced Finn up the back. He fell in the snow one more time.

By then, Rey and Padme were both conscious enough to attack, but only Rey was prepared to, and she knew that. Padme was focused too much on finding Ben again, she wasn't focused on surviving. Rey had no personal connection with Kylo Ren, she was more fit to attack.

Kylo Ren saw the saber, finally unnatended to. He reached for it, using the force to summon it to him. It wiggled, and finally came flying towards him. Only, it was going too fast. Kylo Ren dodged it as it passed him, flying into Rey's hands.

She stood, surprised. She felt strong, powerful, and it consumed her. She ignited it, and stood, prepared to attack with everything she had.